Achievements, Publications, and Writing Challenges

Where Is WHAT WE FIND IN THE DARK?: November 5th’s Feature Friday

Where Is WHAT WE FIND IN THE DARK?: November 5th’s Feature Friday

Happy Friday, friends! How did everyone enjoy their Halloween season? October was an absolute whirlwind for me. My now-7-year-old daughter, Cadence, and now-3-year-old son, Grayson, both had their birthdays, which we celebrated on the day with a few friends and fun...

Read “The Duplex” Free Now!

Read “The Duplex” Free Now!

Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! I hope you're all having a wonderful week. As some of you know, I've been focusing primarily on my clients the last few years (copywriting, line-editing, resumes, publishing assistance, etc.), but in 2020, I decided it was time to dedicate...

New Poem: A Seagull Makes A Lone Call, Off-Course (after Sylvia Plath)

New Poem: A Seagull Makes A Lone Call, Off-Course (after Sylvia Plath)

A SEAGULL MAKES A LONE CALL, OFF-COURSE And across from me a bird roots in the gutter, looking for spare twigs. Its dark feathered body dip in and out of the track, its tail striking the air. I wonder insteadif it has made a nest up there when its body disappears....

New Poem: In The Morning, Where I Walk (after Sylvia Plath)

New Poem: In The Morning, Where I Walk (after Sylvia Plath)

Where Sylvia Plath's "Blackberrying" and social distancing meet . . . IN THE MORNING, WHERE I WALK Out to the street where cars have been parked for days, I know little of what brings the birds out of their hiding, what has come of the neighbors who leave their trash...

A New Poem: Social Distancing & What’s Left Of It—

A New Poem: Social Distancing & What’s Left Of It—

SOCIAL DISTANCE & WHAT'S LEFT--- I look out my windows, check social media, more often than I should, & wonder where the parked cars have gone, also too often, question if there is somewhere I could have gone, too. Out there, I know, someone is sleeping, more...

Literary Scene

An Inspiring Day in Kalamazoo: Poems

An Inspiring Day in Kalamazoo: Poems

Happy Sunday, all! I had a wonderful, literary weekend, celebrating with Bill Olsen, New Issues Poetry & Prose, and fellow writer friends. Here are a few poems I loved from my weekend; enjoy!

Getting Back to the Poems!

Getting Back to the Poems!

Hi all! So sorry for the break in posting. Time to get back to National Poetry Month! Here’s a little about what’s been going on with me, and a new poem of mine. Enjoy!

There’s a New Series Coming! How Do I Submit?

There’s a New Series Coming! How Do I Submit?

Happy Sunday! I’m grateful to announce the re-launch of my Poem of the Day Series, in addition to my new arrivals, Favorite Fiction Friday and Saturday Spotlight. Read on to see how to submit!

In Honor of Linda Gregg: One Poem (For Now)

In Honor of Linda Gregg: One Poem (For Now)

Today I heard of the passing of Linda Gregg, a poet I unfortunately did not know. To honor her, as I honor any poet who has died, I read her work for the first time. It’s heart-wrenching. This is my take on my first experience with Linda Gregg, and a poem of hers I hope will never let me go.

In Honor of Marni Ludwig: Five Poems

In Honor of Marni Ludwig: Five Poems

In honor of the excellent poet, Marni Ludwig, here are five poems: Four of hers and one of mine. All my love today to Marni, her family, and her friends.

My Reading with Write Night! Next Up: Dinosaurs.

My Reading with Write Night! Next Up: Dinosaurs.

  Last night, I had the extremely great opportunity to perform as one of the five Selected Readers for Lit Literary Collective's Write Night in May, organized by Krista Cox and Ultreia, Inc. Thank you, to Krista and Lit Literary and everyone, for having me. I...

Newsletter

Reading and Poem of The Day

Poem of the Day: Justin Phillip Reed

Poem of the Day: Justin Phillip Reed

Happy Tuesday, friends! Coming to you late, but here is today’s Poem of the Day: “What’s Left Behind After a Hawk Has Seized a Smaller Bird Midair” by Justin Phillip Reed. Enjoy!

Poem of the Day: Frank Stanford

Poem of the Day: Frank Stanford

Happy Tuesday, friends! Here is today’s Poem of the Day: “The Light the Dead See” by Frank Stanford. Enjoy!

Poem of the Day: Brigit Pegeen Kelly

Poem of the Day: Brigit Pegeen Kelly

Happy Tuesday, friends! After a bit of a break, here’s the new Poem of the Day: Brigit Pegeen Kelly’s “Doing Laundry on Sunday.” Enjoy!

Poem of the Day: Sylvia Plath

Poem of the Day: Sylvia Plath

Happy Friday, everyone! For our Poem of the Day, here is another poem by Sylvia Plath, “Winter Landscape, with Rooks.” Enjoy!

Poem of the Day: Sylvia Plath

Poem of the Day: Sylvia Plath

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. To start our week, here is a poem by Sylvia Plath, “Blackberrying,” which seems particularly fitting right now. Enjoy!

Poems of the Day: Allan Peterson

Poems of the Day: Allan Peterson

Happy Friday, friends! To carry us into the weekend, here are several short poems by Allan Peterson, from his latest collection, THIS LUMINOUS. Enjoy!

Poem of the Day: Vievee Francis

Poem of the Day: Vievee Francis

Happy Thursday, friends! Here is today’s Poem of the Day: “Another Antipastoral” by Vievee Francis. Enjoy!

Reviews

Writing, Publishing, and Marketing Tips

FAQ: What is a Book Strategist?

FAQ: What is a Book Strategist?

Hi everyone! Very slowly, I’m building an FAQ page for my services, writing, and interests. One of the primary questions I get is, “What is a Book Strategist?” So we’re going to start there! Connect with me, though: What other questions do you have?

March 2019: My First Attempt at #PitMad

March 2019: My First Attempt at #PitMad

Here’s a confession-esque piece on my first attempt at #PitMad today, what I believe I learned, and what I plan to improve for next time. Enjoy! #Pitch #Novel #WIP #WriterstoAgents #PitMad #Twitter

Reading Stephen King & Writing Horror Shovels

Reading Stephen King & Writing Horror Shovels

  Hi friends! Happy Thursday. I hope you had a really wonderful holiday mid-week and are finding yourselves back in the full swing of things. The last few days, since celebrating my birthday, my anniversary, and the 4th of July, I've been doing a lot of reading...

“All My Things Are Empty Now” & The Prompt That Wrote It

“All My Things Are Empty Now” & The Prompt That Wrote It

  Hello, everyone! I hope you had a nice weekend and are enjoying your Monday. Starting this week, I'm going to do something a little different. I'm back to writing every day, with a mixture of free-writing and prompt-driven writing. I'm going to share a poem...

Hey!! A New Feature is Coming to My Blog Very, Very Soon!!

  Yesterday evening, I wrote a sort of long-time-no-see post, followed by a post that very well may have opened a huge door for me. I shared how a poem from my earlier writing life had hugely intersected with a specific incident from my day yesterday, and I came...

First, She was a Poem: Cadence on the Swings

  I had a bit of a moment today, and I really have to share. In the picture to your left is my beautiful, nine-and-a-half-month old daughter, Cadence (yes, like the title), and she had her first turn on a swing today---one of those little, infant-safe ones on a...